Coastal and Estuary Grants Program

As part of the coastal reforms a funding package of $83.6 million was announced for Coastal Management from 2016-17 to 2020-21, and the Coastal and Estuary Grants Program is part of this package.

The NSW Government's Coastal and Estuary Grants Program provides technical and financial support to local government to assist in managing the coastal zone. The program's objectives are to support local government in managing the risks from coastal hazards, such as coastal erosion; restoring degraded coastal habitats; and improving the health of NSW estuaries, wetlands and littoral rainforests.

There are currently 5 streams under the Coastal and Estuary Grants Program: 1 for planning and studies, which includes investigation and design, and cost-benefit analysis; and 4 for implementing works identified in certified coastal zone or estuary management plans.

During the 2016-17 funding round, $1,458,980 million in funding was awarded under the planning stream to 24 projects.

On 1 March 2017, $1,071,600 in funding was awarded to local councils to implement works identified in certified coastal zone or estuary management plans. In total, 13 projects were supported in the 2016-17 funding round.

In August 2017, a further 2 grants totalling $47,964.50 were awarded from the reserve list and on 5 December 2017, 1 grant totalling $50,000 was awarded for a coastal hotspot project.

Councils in identified hotspot locations may apply for projects related to the hotspot site at any time throughout the year for works that cannot wait until the next funding round.

Aim of the program

Under the Coastal and Estuary Grants Program, the NSW Government provides technical and financial support to local government, to assist in managing the coastal zone. The objectives of the Coastal and Estuary Grants Program is to support local government in:

managing the risk from coastal hazards

coastal erosion

restoring degraded coastal habitats

improving the health of NSW estuaries, wetlands and littoral rainforests.

Who can apply?

Local councils

Regional Organisations of Councils which manage a grant on behalf of a group of local councils

Lord Howe Island Board

Local land services, county councils and public land managers (such as a Crown reserve trust or a location-specific NSW Government authority) in partnership with a lead council, providing the council is the principal applicant and assumes overall responsibility for administrating the grant.

What will be funded?

Coastal and Estuary Planning

These include:

develop a Coastal Management Program (CMP)

transition a Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) to a CMP

undertake investigations and designs or cost benefit analyses for infrastructure works recommended in a certified CZMP or CMP.

Funded coastal and estuary grants

Grants awarded pre 2016-17

Coastal Management Program

The legislative and policy framework introduced by the coastal reforms recognises natural coastal processes and the local and regional dynamic character of the coast, and promotes land use planning decisions that accommodate them. As a result of this change, the existing Coastal Management Program was amalgamated with the Estuary Management Program, and a new Program was introduced to align with the changes brought about by the new Coastal Management Act 2016. A list of all successful projects under the Coastal Management Program can be found on the summary pages below.

Estuary Management Program

The legislative and policy framework introduced by the coastal reforms recognises natural coastal processes and the local and regional dynamic character of the coast, and promotes land use planning decisions that accommodate them. As a result of this change, the existing Estuary Management Program was amalgamated with the Coastal Management Program, and a new Program was introduced to align with the changes brought about by the new Coastal Management Act 2016. A list of successful projects under the Estuary Management Program can be found on the summary pages below.